Turn your new year’s resolution green for 2018

It’s easy to make going green your new year’s resolution for 2018. Year after year there is growing interest in green living and acknowledgement of our impact on the world around us.

Maybe it’s a little early to start thinking about new years, but if you’re already anticipating over-indulgence during the holiday season, be it with gift-giving, eating or just thinking about the mountains of wrapping paper and packaging going into the bin, you might find comfort in starting 2018 with a more conscious and less wasteful approach that’s easy to do as well as being better for the environment.

Think second hand first

When you need to buy something, think about buying second hand BEFORE thinking about buying brand new. Using sites like eBay could bag you a barely-used item for a much cheaper price than buying a new one and will prevent you buying something when another’s can be recycled. Don’t shy away from buying larger or bulkier things second hand, as there are services like Shiply that can help you out. If you’re looking to buy clothing, try charity shops if you can – (they are perfect for hats and scarves!) If you do plan to buy something that’s new – think about how long you’ll be able to use it for, and try to choose quality and longevity over something that’ll only be used once or twice.

Spring clean

Choose a rainy winter day as an opportunity to declutter. Having a good clear out will make your home feel fresh and ready for the year ahead. If there is anything of value, you may even be able to make some money as well as clearing out your cupboards. See what you can sell, donate or recycle before considering throwing away into landfill, and look in your local area for charity shops, toy libraries or food banks to see if someone else can benefit from your surplus or unwanted items.

For CDs and DVDs etc, sites like Music Magpie can give you a little bit of money per item, which soon adds up when you’ve got a whole box full.

Cut down on meat

You don’t have to become a fully-fledged vegan to reduce your impact on the environment. Even reducing your meat consumption slightly means lowering the amount of energy that has gone into bringing your food to your plate. There are lots of helpful websites to get you started like MeatFree Mondays, and once you’ve tried a few veggie recipes, you’ll gain more confidence in mixing up your diet. Whether you go all the way, or just cut down, it all makes a difference. As the number of vegetarians and vegans increases across the world, so does the number of meat-free alternatives to hit the shelves so it’s now easier than ever.

Practice a little Hygge

You don’t need to turn into a hipster to implement a little Hygge into your life. Hygge is the Danish practice of acknowledging a feeling or a moment, a word synonymous with cosiness, warmth and togetherness. The new year is the perfect time to start as the cold and dark outdoors call for warm and fluffy times at home. A great way to get started with Hygge is to enjoy family meals together without the presence of technology, or read together one evening a week rather than surfing the internet or gaming.